# The Great Ongoing Guitar Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 31, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172 "2010-01-31T23:20:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/101 "2010-02-06T07:31:59Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Hey \*\*Pork Rind \*\*- what do you think of your H&D? I have played a few; well-made guitars (for other Dopers: Huss and Dalton are a small-production guitar company, like Santa Cruz and Collings, turning out high-end acoustic guitars based on popular design standards that originated mostly with Martin and Gibson, but with their own spin on it). Does it follow a Martin D-18? If so, how does it compare? How chunky/slim is the neck? > > And I love the photos of the '37 Gibson I found [online](http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=4911238)- what can you tell us about it (how does it sound and play, too?) and how come you are selling it? Oh hell. I just typed, and lost, a long reply. I’ll try again in the morning when motivation returns. Short answer: Huss and Dalton = D-18 + extra goodness. Gibson L-37 = Cool looking - uncomfortable v neck \* thin midrangey tone. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/102 "2010-02-06T11:42:17Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > Oh hell. I just typed, and lost, a long reply. I’ll try again in the morning when motivation returns. > > Short answer: > Huss and Dalton = D-18 + extra goodness. > Gibson L-37 = Cool looking - uncomfortable v neck \* thin midrangey tone. Aw man - I want the long reply! That H&D sounds wonderful. I have been playing a few D-18s lately - I am a mahogany guy. As for the Gibson - well, I love me a V neck - I would love to get a mid 30’s L-00 to go with my '46 LG-2 someday - but I hear you about the tone. I recently played a 1926 L-4 which was so well made and had a wonderful handful of a neck, but it had that thin tone where you could tell the design was not quite there yet from a “modern guitar tone” standpoint… …and \*\*Ogre \*\*- no worries. Since this is more FYI and not a deal going down, I have no problem saying that I will probably list the Burny for ~$800. Great guitar - solid maple top with a flamed maple veneer, solid mahogany body, great medium-sized neck (this is the guitar that really drew my attention to neck profiles and the fact that, as a feature, it really matters to me - I have come to love huge necks, but this one is nice, medium and perfect). Original pickups and standard wear - all in all a great guitar, especially when compared to your average similarly-priced Gibson at Guitar Center (I am a Gibson guy, but have always said you need to play a bunch to find a good one). I am just not playing humbucker Les Pauls right now and can put the guitar funds to other uses… ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/103 "2010-02-06T12:33:28Z")
While we’re speaking of guitars for sale, one of my favorite musicians is selling one of his early guitars. It’s a [Martin J-40M](http://www.ecityarts.net/classifieds/martin_j40m.htm), even used on one of the group’s early recordings. I’m still just picking my way through my first instructional book, so I’m not in a position to truly appreciate it. Just thought I’d pass the word along in case anyone wanted to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/104 "2010-02-06T17:37:40Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > My teacher taught me a bunch of blues & boogie woogie rhythms that are a lot more pleasing to play (to me at least) than Ode to Joy and Minuet in G. I still use them for warm ups when I practice. > > When I get a chance, I’ll try to track one down. Sorry for the delay, I was travelling on business. Here goes… (my first ever tab…be gentle) [QUOTE=Jimmy Reed] ```auto |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--2-2---4-4---2-2---4-4---|--2-2---4-4---2-2---4-4---| |--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--2-2---4-4---2-2---4-4---|--2-2---4-4---5-5---4-4---| |--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--2-2---4-4---2-2---4-4---|--2-2---4-4---5-5---4-4---| |--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--2-2---4-4---2-2---4-4---|--2-2---4-4---5-5---4-4---| |--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--4-4---4-4---4-4---4-4---|--2-2---2-2---2-2---2-2---| |--2-2---2-2---2-2---2-2---|--0-0---0-0---0-0---0-0---| |--------------------------|--------------------------| |--------------------------|-----2---2----------------| |--------------------------|-----0---0----------------| |--------------------------|-----2---2----------------| |--------------------------|-----1---1----------------| |--------------0-0---1-1---|--2--2---2----------------| |--0-0---4-4---------------|--------------------------| ``` [/QUOTE] If you are just starting out and playing two strings at a time is hard for you, just skip the lower note. It’ll still sound pretty good. Likewise, if the B7 at the end is tough too (HINT: it _is_ tough) - just play the B on string 5. Have fun! I did! _Hmmm…It occurs to me that I don’t know the policy for posting copyrighted stuff. I’m guessing that this rhythm is so old that it would be out of copyright anyway, but if I am breaking the rules, I hope someone will let me know and I’ll post it on my blog and link it here instead._ ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/105 "2010-02-06T19:02:46Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > E-Sabbath - two things: > > 1. […] Ovations are slammed for being not all that great. > > 2. What you are asking for, in your question about electric guitar types, is something that I refer to as “What are the major electric guitar “food groups”?” It is a twisty road with lots of YMMV, but if you want to go there, I may have time in the office next week… I’m actually more familiar with Ovation mandolins, to be honest. Which I could swear do have a bowl-like body. And yeah, that’s a long question. But now that I’ve managed to swear this starcaster under control (Filed down the frets, and now I’m tearing the bridge apart a bit and it’s slowly working better) I am curious about the other possiblities out there. I’ve got till my tax return comes in. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/106 "2010-02-06T20:17:48Z")
> [@kevlaw](#): > > _Hmmm…It occurs to me that I don’t know the policy for posting copyrighted stuff. I’m guessing that this rhythm is so old that it would be out of copyright anyway, but if I am breaking the rules, I hope someone will let me know and I’ll post it on my blog and link it here instead._ I’m pretty sure nobody has a copyright on twelve bar blues in A. Its the most generic blues pattern in the universe. Don’t even worry about it. The big no-no that I’ve seen here is posting complete lyrics for a song, not tabs. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/107 "2010-02-07T07:04:53Z")
I just recorded Albatross in Garage Band. As always, when I play it to myself it feels really good but then when I come to try to record it, it feels really rushed. Anyway, here it is, my first try: [albatross.mp3](http://www.raggedclown.com/2010/02/06/bird-of-ill-omen/) I’ll try it again next weekend. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/108 "2010-02-07T15:02:51Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > I’m actually more familiar with Ovation mandolins, to be honest. Which I could swear do have a bowl-like body. > > And yeah, that’s a long question. But now that I’ve managed to swear this starcaster under control (Filed down the frets, and now I’m tearing the bridge apart a bit and it’s slowly working better) I am curious about the other possiblities out there. I’ve got till my tax return comes in. Okay - I will think about this and write something up tomorrow. I think I will start a separate thread that this one is linked to, so that particular topic doesn’t hijack this general guitar thread… And \*\*kevlaw \*\*- I will give it a listen tomorrow… ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/109 "2010-02-07T17:10:09Z")
Dude, that’s what this thread is for. Everything and anything guitar. It can’t be a hijack! Today, I unearthed my books from the last time I tried to learn guitar. Turns out the good fake book I had? Hal Leonard. Then I wandered into the music store to get a chromatic tuner. I saw a Rock Band music book. I looked through it and went, “Huh, it’s only snatches of the songs, but I _can play these_. This is good!” It’s Hal Leonard in association with Harmonix. Then I found The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance. … yeah. Hal Leonard, and it tells me and shows me exactly what I have to do with my bridge. Does this guy publish any bad books? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/110 "2010-02-07T17:29:49Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Does this guy publish any bad books? I have [this one](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/063402566X/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance) in my shopping cart at Amazon, despite getting only 2.5 stars. It sounds like it covers some material that I’d like to learn once I get a little more advanced. I’ll keep an eye out for it at the guitar stores, maybe look through it before I buy it, or find something better. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/111 "2010-02-07T17:47:53Z")
Well, I’m back in the states and the proud owner of a new Epiphone Les Paul Special II, with a Valve Junior amp on the way from Musician’s Friend. Yet to get any lessons set up–hopefully in the next week here. Everyone’s mentioned the importance of proper setup on a new guitar. My uncle, who visited last night and fooled around with it, said the same thing. What’s a reasonable price for this kind of work, and what should I expect the tech to do? My father, who’s recently decided to get back into playing, has been dealing with this [rather fanatic local luthier](http://www.schneiderguitars.com/index.html) who just quoted us $200, which he then brought down to $150. More than the guitar itself cost, and, well… while I don’t doubt he does good work, it sounds a bit crazy to me. I’m looking forward to getting started on this road–it’s been fun reading this thread. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/112 "2010-02-07T18:04:26Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Dude, that’s what this thread is for. Everything and anything guitar. It can’t be a hijack! > > Today, I unearthed my books from the last time I tried to learn guitar. Turns out the good fake book I had? Hal Leonard. > > Then I wandered into the music store to get a chromatic tuner. I saw a Rock Band music book. I looked through it and went, “Huh, it’s only snatches of the songs, but I _can play these_. This is good!” It’s Hal Leonard in association with Harmonix. > > Then I found The Complete Guide to Guitar and Amp Maintenance. > > … yeah. Hal Leonard, and it tells me and shows me exactly what I have to do with my bridge. > > Does this guy publish any bad books? I’m not sure how much, if any, Hal Leonard stuff I have. The other hugely important publisher is [Mel Bay.](http://www.melbay.com/) Does anyone else suffer from an addiction to guitar-related DVDs and books? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/113 "2010-02-07T18:49:28Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Does anyone else suffer from an addiction to guitar-related DVDs and books? Well, it depends - I don’t buy theory “how to” books because I have found my own way over the years. Not sure why, and I respect and see the value of lessons, etc, but it is what has worked for me. Same with watching youtube How To videos or those clips from Arlen Roth I get from [Gibson.com](http://Gibson.com) and occasionally share with you guys - I watch 'em once or twice, take from them what I can, and then move on. Weird. BUT - I _love_ history and encyclopedia type books on guitar! The History of…well, anything - specific brands of guitar, amps, guitar effects - you name it. I have a very big library of those…I love learning about the evolution of the guitar in general and specific brands. And **E**? I am inclined to stick with a separate thread - simply because it will be easier to refer to with a link if I have to bring it up later - which happens often enough to be a consideration. Also, this is your thread and a good, smart, ongoing, general topic guitar thread - I don’t need to come it and hork up a big breakdown of guitar groups and take it over. I have enjoyed the variety of topics and the multiple-topics-at-once nature of this so far… It’s all good…now I gotta get back to the Honey-Do list before the Super Bowl… ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/114 "2010-02-07T21:47:47Z")
Your call man. Makes sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![BigShooter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigShooter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigShooter)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/115 "2010-02-07T23:46:46Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Well, I’m back in the states and the proud owner of a new Epiphone Les Paul Special II, with a Valve Junior amp on the way from Musician’s Friend. Yet to get any lessons set up–hopefully in the next week here. > > Everyone’s mentioned the importance of proper setup on a new guitar. My uncle, who visited last night and fooled around with it, said the same thing. What’s a reasonable price for this kind of work, and what should I expect the tech to do? My father, who’s recently decided to get back into playing, has been dealing with this [rather fanatic local luthier](http://www.schneiderguitars.com/index.html) who just quoted us $200, which he then brought down to $150. More than the guitar itself cost, and, well… while I don’t doubt he does good work, it sounds a bit crazy to me. > > I’m looking forward to getting started on this road–it’s been fun reading this thread. 🙂 For a basic setup, $200 is ridiculous - I don’t care how good the guy is. I usually charge around $30 - $40. That includes a string change, treating the fretboard (if it’s rosewood), neck adjustment, action set to your preference, intonation, pickup height adjustment, and a good all-around polishing. I would charge extra if a fret level or a new nut is needed. But most new guitars (unless they’re utter crap) shouldn’t need anything but the basics… ---
**Author:** ![tacoloco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tacoloco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tacoloco)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/116 "2010-02-08T00:00:57Z")
> [@BigShooter](#): > > For a basic setup, $200 is ridiculous - I don’t care how good the guy is. I usually charge around $30 - $40. That includes a string change, treating the fretboard (if it’s rosewood), neck adjustment, action set to your preference, intonation, pickup height adjustment, and a good all-around polishing. I pay about $35 around here for a setup. And like you said, more if I need/want the frets dressed. What I usually do is get one good setup when I buy a new guitar and then maintain it myself after that. “The other hugely important publisher is Mel Bay.” When I was learning to play bass, more years ago than I like to admit, my teacher used the Mel Bay electric bass book. It contained examples such as “this is the pick” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/117 "2010-02-08T01:32:31Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > “The other hugely important publisher is Mel Bay.” > > When I was learning to play bass, more years ago than I like to admit, my teacher used the Mel Bay electric bass book. It contained examples such as “this is the pick” 🙂 I poked around on that site a little bit, looking for a their equivalent of the very beginner book that I’m using. Couldn’t find one. Everyting seemed to be divided into styles and methods. I’m just starting; I don’t even know what style I want, yet. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/118 "2010-02-08T04:09:02Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Well, I’m back in the states and the proud owner of a new Epiphone Les Paul Special II, with a Valve Junior amp on the way from Musician’s Friend. Yet to get any lessons set up–hopefully in the next week here. Congrats! That’s the guitar I got last year when I started playing. I still struggle with the low E buzzing a bit, though I suspect at least half of that is my fingering technique. 😉 I concur with several other posters…a good basic set-up shouldn’t be putting you back that much. I had the tech at my school set up my Special II for me, once I learned that such was actually needed, and I think he charged $40. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/119 "2010-02-08T14:43:04Z")
I started the thread on [Guitar Food Groups](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=551263) - please pile on as you see fit. \*\*kevlaw \*\*- where is Albatross? I tried clicking on the link and ended up at While My Guitar Gently Weeps… ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172/120 "2010-02-08T15:48:33Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > \*\*kevlaw \*\*- where is Albatross? I tried clicking on the link and ended up at While My Guitar Gently Weeps… Huh. That’s weird. Here’s alink that goes directly to the mp3 file. [http://www.raggedclown.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/albatross.mp3](http://www.raggedclown.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/albatross.mp3) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-guitar-thread/527172.md?page=7)